To: Ed Pettee who wrote (6465 ) 1/16/1998 9:59:00 PM From: SE Read Replies (1) | Respond to of 10368
Ed, Did you post this one yet???? GO PACK GO! -Scott Published Friday, January 16, 1998, in The State Senators say `no' counties shouldn't get gambling revenue By JESSE J. HOLLAND The Associated Press South Carolina counties that voted against video gambling in a 1994 referendum should not profit from the machines in other counties, two powerful state senators say. Sen. Glenn McConnell, R-Charleston, introduced a bill Wednesday that would keep the industry's license fees from going to the 12 counties that wanted to ban machine payouts. "Either you are for gambling or you are against gambling," McConnell said. "Those who keep it, get the money. Those that don't want gambling shouldn't want or get the money." His bill also would require the revenue be used only for public infrastructure improvement. The county-by-county referendum later were thrown out by the state Supreme Court as unconstitutional. Payoffs continue while a video gambling operators' suit is pending. The 12 counties accounted for $146 million of the industry's gross receipts during the last three months of the fiscal year that ended June 30, 1997, according to the Revenue Department. The counties included Abbeville, Aiken, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Chesterfield, Greenwood, Lancaster, Oconee, Pickens, Union and York. York brought in $92 million for the 1997 fiscal year as the fifth-highest grossing county in the state. McConnell's bill, which was sent to the Senate Finance Committee, has the support of Senate Majority Leader John Land, D-Manning. "I don't think they can have the best of both worlds, claiming that video poker is some kind of evil and not wanting it in their counties, but yet reap the benefits of the $62 million that comes in," Land said. "I think it ought to go to the counties that voted for it." Land said he would not support a ban on the $2 billion industry. "It's just like Prohibition," he said. "We couldn't outlaw drinking and you can't outlaw gambling. You might outlaw the machines, but gambling is something that's been around a long time and it's going to stay. "I think we ought to regulate it and tax it," Land said.